Poorer Quarters

Depression is real 12 August 2014

It is one of the reasons I am starting up my blog again. I was planning on the beginning of September, but it seems like a good moment to do it. With news of the suicide of Robin Williams, everyone seems to have an opinion. As with most opinions on the internet, the stances are fairly polarized.

On one side, we have those who believe and argue that depression is an issue of mindset and spirituality, and that suicide is pure choice. That there is no excuse, it is always selfish, and never understandable. On the other side, there are those who declare that depression is entirely chemical. That those with depression can only battle it through medication, and that suicide is a “known possible side effect” of the disorder/disease. That people who take their own life fall prey to an illness, just as someone who dies of liver failure or a stroke.

In my experience, the truth generally lies in a middle ground. The world is not nearly as black-and-white as we would like it to be, and the subject and reality of depression and suicide is no exception. I will be talking more about this in the coming months – both here, and on my new vlog that I will be starting soon.

But for now I wanted to say this:

Depression is real. It is scary and lonely. Many people struggle with it, whatever the cause, and it has been observed that suicide rates go up when a celebrity takes their own life. Instead of binge-watching Robin Williams films, or sulking about how much you will miss his great talent and humor, consider donating your time and/or money to a suicide prevention hotline. They are priceless resources for those going through the darkness. You can call, no matter the time of day or night, and talk to someone who will not judge you or condemn you. If you have training in mental health, they are always looking for volunteers to man the phones. They probably could also use volunteers in other areas – most non-profits can. If you can’t volunteer your time, consider donating to help with their administration costs; even a dollar can help to save someone’s life.

I guess what it boils down to is instead of judging and arguing, let’s help people.

Always,

Emily